Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Cotton Summer Dresses

44 replies

A1Sharon · 08/05/2016 09:33

Hi, we are heading to Majorca for 2 weeks in July, plus, apparently it will be a lovely summer here in UK,Hmm.
I want some cotton summer dresses, preferably sleeveless, not high necked.
But apparently there must be a law or something that summer dresses must be made in sweaty material,with belts,and pleats/gathers at the waist and long sleeves?
Has anyone found any?!
TIA.

OP posts:
JapanNextYear · 08/05/2016 09:44

Sea salt, marks and spencer linen, John Lewis.

YvaineStormhold · 08/05/2016 09:44

Hush

YvaineStormhold · 08/05/2016 09:45

Cath Kidston
White Company

A1Sharon · 08/05/2016 10:22

Thank you for suggestions!
I'm 5'8" and Hush dresses are tunics on me.
The Seasalt ones are nice, but a bit structured for touristy things in the heat?
Cath Kidson clothes quite simply fit no one I have never met. My mum is 4'10", and she and I tried on clothes out of there a while back and everything was wrong every way on both of us. Very strange.
I can't see anything I like in JL or H&M.
Which means the problem is me! Grin
I might get this one from M&S?
m.marksandspencer.ie/mt/www.marksandspencer.ie/Linen-Blend-Tailored-Fit-Shift-Dress/P22445379,en_IE,pd.html?dwvar_P22445379_color=XS&start=

OP posts:
margaritasbythesea · 08/05/2016 10:23

That had a nice stripy one in Sainsburys. Mostly white with red and blue stripe.

A1Sharon · 08/05/2016 10:34

I have tried stripes, dresses and tops. Stripes hate me. Fact.

OP posts:
RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 08/05/2016 11:52

I've been looking for ages (and had a huge thread on here). There's virtually nothing out there, as far as I can see. Sainsbo's looked as if they might have a couple, but we haven't got a store that sells clothes and I cba with online ordering.

Somebody linked me to this one which I love the shape of, but I don't like blue.

I've currently got my eye on this

blueskyinmarch · 08/05/2016 11:52

I buy lots of summer dresses from White Stuff.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 08/05/2016 11:53

I found a Cath Kidston one I liked the look of but dd2 said I'd look like Grayson Perry in it! Also, have tried their dresses on before and they are so, so badly made and unflattering.

A1Sharon · 08/05/2016 12:27

That Warehouse one is nice Remus, I'm going in to town now, will keep an eye out for it.
I like the Monsoon one but hate black...

OP posts:
dragonsarebest · 08/05/2016 12:45

Uniqlo.

Like this one, this one, or this one. There are more - see if anything grabs you.

dragonsarebest · 08/05/2016 12:46

Sorry, my last link has sleeves.

Roystonv · 08/05/2016 12:48

Asinine?

Roystonv · 08/05/2016 12:48

Oh offs, Adini?

NamelessEnsign · 08/05/2016 12:51

People Tree, or Braintree.

Doobigetta · 08/05/2016 13:05

I'm on the same quest, Sharon. I got a couple of nice ones in tk maxx the other week- a white linen shift, and a very lightweight sleeveless denim shirt dress. They had a reasonable amount of choice as well. It really is the holy grail of dresses, though, and there are so few around. If you want minuscule, or long sleeved, or formal enough for a wedding, or synthetic fabric, you're spoilt for choice. And it seems bloody obvious that enough cotton to cover from shoulder to knee and nothing else would be what everyone wants in nice weather, so why can't you buy them???

Botchit · 08/05/2016 13:16

Have you looked at Boden OP. They often do a long version of their dresses, which although not great for very tall, should be good for you at 5ft 8".

StarUtopia · 08/05/2016 13:19

Just bought a lovely one (and cheap!) from Sainsburys. Navy with capped sleeves. Incredibly comfortable, lightweight and not sweaty in the slightest.

A1Sharon · 08/05/2016 16:05

Was with a friend in town and she was tight for time, so didn't get to see much. But M&S had nice linen t shirts, and I tried on and liked the leaf print skater beach dress -if any one can link,and linen shorts, so will probably get them on line.
Everything from Boden has gathers at the waist, which does not suit me at all, or is too structured, or dressy. I'm really talking about stuff for beach to villa/strolling around old towns,getting ice cream with kids, as opposed to heading 'out' for dinner. So bumming around really!
Will deffo try sainsburys. The Adini site has some lovely things.
Thank you all!

OP posts:
SunnySomer · 08/05/2016 18:21

Try Toast. I've got the Lydia dress in orange and it's really striking. And comfy. And cotton. And sleeveless. And longish! On the model it looks a bit meh, but I've found it suits me

moonandforward · 08/05/2016 18:40

I love the navy wrap dress linked above. Would it suit a menopausal rounded tummy?

stringbean · 09/05/2016 15:13

I second what someone above has said, and recently bought the Toast Lydia dress. I bought a stripey one, and it's lovely - only down-side is it's a little longer than I wanted, but I could take it up - really nice thick jersey cotton, scoop neck. I agree it looks a bit debatable on the model but it's actually a very flattering dress. I sized down (usually take a 12 but it was too big). I search for summer dresses of the kind you describe every year, OP. I'm 5'8 as well and it's a real struggle to find anything suitable.

oldmum22 · 09/05/2016 15:19

Debenhams have a range called Mantaray , Faithful and True .Their summer dresses are 100% cotton and so lovely. They wash well ,good price and I love them .My sister reckons they are similar to "FatFace" style.

Joinourclub · 09/05/2016 15:52

Something like this? www.houseoffraser.co.uk/LILY+ME+A+line+summer+dress/229484320,default,pd.html

Swipe left for the next trending thread